Hat making machine



March 21, 1933. R. G. MULLER HAT MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 1, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR March 21, 1933. R MULLER 1,902,516

HAT MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 1, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q '75 & J '1 l" 4. as as M Q o W I $1 $1 3 N\ M k g 1 INVENTOR A TTORNEY X V Y% Patented Mar. 21', 1933 RUDOLPH G. MULLER, IRVINGTON, NEW JERSEY ME j HAT MAKING MACHINE Application filed. December 1, 1931. SerialNo. 578,283.

This invention relates to improvements in' hat making machines of the kind known to the industry as tip-stretchers.

In tip stretching machines as heretofore constructed, the vertically reciprocated and angularly adjustable stretcher fingers converge at their inner or upper ends upon a tip cushion. This tip cushion is supported within a cavity in the bottom of the hub from which said stretcher fingers radiate, and usually comprises a disc-like body of resilient material, such as soft vulcanized rubber. Said tip cushion is axially aligned with the stationary ribbed former of the machine, upon which the hat body under treatment is "supported subject to the action of the stretcher fingers, which are vertically reciprocated in relation to said former and the hat body supported thereby. The tip cushion thus opposed to the apex of the former, .and,being relatively soft, cushions and protects the hat body tip against injury during tip stretching co-operation of stretcher fin gers and former. In the machines as heretofore provided, no provision has been made for readily and quickly removing the tip cushion for replacement when it has become WOI'Ii or soiled, which is of more or less frequent occurrence; and it has been heretofore necessary to practically disassemble the stretcher finger mechanism in order to ac-, complish such replacement of the tip-cushion. Such necessity results, not only in 'loss of service of the machine for appreciable time periods, but also involves loss of theoperators time, with consequent reduction in his capacity for finished work output; and,'furthermore, disturbs the adjustment of the stretcher fingers so thatreadjustment of the same is necessary before operation of-the ma,

chine can be resumed.

Having these objections principal object of this invention to provide a: novel and relatively simple means for detachably mounting tip cushions-for quickand easy removal andrepla-cement, without necessity for either dismantling the stretcher finger mechanism or disturbing given adjustments'thereof desired to be maintained. This invention has for a furtherobject in mind, it is the lower. portion to provide a novel means for pivoting the stretcher fingers, whereby a maximum pivotal bearing support thereof is possible, resulting in a stronger and more rigid support of said fingers, and the elimination of unde 5.5 sirable loose play and vibration thereof during operative'cooperation} thereof with the. former of the machine, while at the same time affording a very compact assembly of the stretcher finger mechanism as a whole."

Other objects of this'invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detaileddescription of the same.

An illustratlve embodiment of this inven tion is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which 3- v Fig. 1 isa fragmentary front elevation of the upper portion of a tip stretching machine provided with stretcher finger means according to this invention; Fig. 2 is avertical longitudinal section through the stretcher finger means, taken on line 2- 2'in Fig. '1, showing the novel tip cushion holding means supporting a tip cushion in operativefassembled relation'to the stretcher finger means; Fig. 3 is a view similar to that'of Fig. 2, but showing the tip cushion holding means released to permitremoval and replacement 80 of the tip cushion; and Fig. 4 is a horizontal section, takenon finest-4: in Fig. 3,-but drawn on an enlarged scale.v 1

Similar characters of reference areeinployed in the above=des0ribed view"s,to indicate corresponding parts, c

Referring to said lrawings, the reference character 5 indicates the cross=head from which the stretcher" finger means is: sus' pended, saidcross-head being carried upon a pair ofslide rods 6, vertically reciprocable in" guide bearings '7 connected with the framework-of the machine;all in the customary manner whereby the stretcher finger means is vertically reciprocated-relative to 95 f a former 8, to operatively engage and stretch a hat body'9 supportedjuponthe latte'rs. The "stretcher finger means comprises a spindle 10 having an externally threaded. 11. Connected with the lower s end of'said spindle 10 is aihub-member 12 7 having a central through opening 13 to receive a'removable tip cushion 1 Said hub member 13 is connected to said spindle, preferably as anintegral structure, by means of a yoke portion 15 whichspans the opening 13;]said yoke portion having a transverse, open passageway 16 therethrough, above the upper face or sideof the hub member, and

arranged to communicate with the upper end of said hub opening 13. The underside of said hub member 12 is provided with a downwardly open annular recess or channel 17, bounded on its inner side by a wall 18 surrounding the central opening 13 and on its outer side by a wall 19.

The reference character 20 indicates theseveral' stretcher fingers which are equispaced around and which radiate from the hub member 12 in downward and outward angular extension therefrom. Each stretcher finger 20 is pivoted to swing on a horizontal axis at right angles to the vertical plane thereof, such axis being disposed in a plane radial to the vertical axis of the hub member 12 and offset ninety degrees from the radial plane of the stretcherfinger. To this end fulcrum pins or bolts 21 are provided, the same each having a threaded portion 22 to ,screw into internally threaded openings 23 in the outer wall 19, of the hub member; the free ends of said pins entering into openings 24 provided in said inner wall 18 of the hub member, thus firmly supporting said fulcrum pinsin-and for extension between said hub member walls and through annular recess or channel defin'ed thereby. Integrally formed with and extending from the upper inner ends of said stretcher fingers 20 are arcuate arms 25 terminating in pivoting knuckles 26 which are journaled upon corresponding fulcrum pins 21, the arrangement thereof being i such that said arms underlap one another.

By this described arrangement for pivotally connecting the stretcher fingers 20 with the hub member 12, it will be apparent that a comparatively long and substantial pivotal thereof to the particular size of hat body,

bearing support is provided therefor, tothe end'that loose play and lateral vibration of the fingers are eliminated and the same are rigidly and strongly supported while nevertheless free to beadjustably swung inwardly orroutwardly to accommodate the operation acted upon at any giventime.

The means for adjusting the stretcher" fingers 'to increase or decrease the angular I spread'thereof, comprises a nut member 27 threaded. upon the externally threaded'por- ,tion11 of said spindle 10 for verticaladjusting movements thereon. The lower end of a1d nut member 27 is providedswith a later-s is seated a fulcrum plate 29 provided, inpro- -jecting extension from its periphery, with a or rality of bifurcate hinge knuckles 30.

y projecting annular flange 28 upon which Said hinge knuckles 30 correspond in number to the number of stretcher fingers 20 and are vertically aligned therewith. Links 31 are pi'votally connected by their lower ends with the free end portions of said stretcher fingers 20, and are respectively pivoted by their upper ends to the respective hinge knuckles 30 of saidzfulcrum plate 29. A hand wheel 32 is secured to said nut member 27 above the fulcrum plate 29, whereby said nut member may be turned to effect desired vertical movement thereof'on the threaded portion 11 of the spindle 10, to thereby raise or lower, at i will, said fulcrum plate; said nut member being freely rotatable relative to the latter. Threaded upon said screw threaded portion 11 of the spindle 10 above the nut member 27 is a lock or jam nut 33 having a hand-wheel flange 34, the same being manipulatable relative to said nut member 27 to lock the same in any given position to which it has been adjusted.

The stretcher finger means is connected with the cross-head 5 of the machine-by passing the upper end of said spindle 10 upwardly therethrough and through a supporting collar 35 fixed'to said cross-head; said spindlebeing secured against vertical dis.-

' placement by a set-screw 36, or by any other suitable fastening means.

The upper inner ends of said stretcher fin gers 20 are provided with terminal exten sions 20 converging toward'the lower open mouth of said hub opening 13, thus forming shoulders 20" which underlie said opening so as to abut the tip cushionrlet-when the same is operatively mounted in said hub opening 13. The means for, detachably V mounting said tip cushion 14 in said hub opening 13, and in operative relation to said stretcher finger shoulders 20 so that the same may be easily and quickly removed and replaced at will without disturbing, the stretcher finger-connections or without disturbing. the angular adjustment of. said stretcher fingers, comprises the following arrangement. Said spindle 10 is provided with an axial bore-37 extending therethrough, a portion 1 (preferably the upper portion) of which is internally screw-threaded as at 38. Extending through said here 37 andaxially movable therein, by virtue of the threaded connection of an externallyscrew-threadedportion 39 thereof with said internal threads I 120 iecting end of said stem .40 is provided with a squared head 41 for the application of a 38, is a stem 40. The upper outwardly prosuitable wrench or key thereto forv turning the same. Fixed to the lower end of said stem 40, preferablyasanintegral part there: V 'of-,ris a disc-like backing member 42 for engagement with the tip cushion 14. Said backing member 42 possesses a diameter somewhat less'than the internal diameter ofsaid hub opening 13, whereby the former maybe 1 I cushion and entirely outof the hub member like implement, as 43 in easily moved into and out of the latter as otr casion requires.

When in normaloperative position, tip cushion 14 is her opening 13, so that its lower face abuts said shoulders 20 of the stretcher fingers. The tip-cushion, as thus disposed, is firmly secured in place against movement by screwing downwardly said stem 40 to carry said backing member 42 into said hub member opening 13 and in downwardly thrusting and holding engagement withthe top of said tip cushion 14, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. 7 Should it be desired to remove and replace the tip-cushion 14, the stem 40 is screwed upwardly to withdraw the backing member 42 from holding engagement with the .tip-

I the opening 13, whereupon by using: any "rod- Fig. 3, the tip-cushion 'may be pushed upwardly out of the top of cushion disposed in said opening to abutsaid hub member opening 13, and into the transversely open passageway lG of the yoke portion 15,v as shown by full lines in said Fig. 3. After being thus raised clear of the hub member opening 13 in the described manner, the tip-cushion 14 may be thereupon. thrust by the finger or otherwise sideways and out of said transverse passageway 16, as indicated by dot and dash lines in :saidfFig. 3, whereupon the same may be taken away. These operations are reversed when assem bling a tip-cushion in the stretcher finger means as will be obvious. I a I From the above description it will be clear that the tip-cushion 14 may, be easily and quickly removed and replaced, without necessity of dismantling the stretcher fingers 20 or even disturbing any given adjusted position of the same which maybe desired to be continued or maintained.

As many changes could be made inthe above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, itis intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not ina limiting sense. 7

I claim i 1. In a machine of the kind described, stretcher means including asup'port and a plurality of stretcher fingers projecting angularly and radially from said support, said support having a central opening outward- 1y open at its upper and lower ends, a tip converging inner end portions of said stretch: er fingers, and releasable means for holding said tip cushion so disposed, said tip cush-,

ion being replaceably removable through the outwardly open upper end of said opening.

2. In a machine of the 1 kind -described,

lodged within the hub mem stretcher finger means having a spindle for connecting the same-withthe machine including a hub member having anaxial opening. therethrough terminating upwardly in a laterally open passage,'a tip cushion within saidopening disposed .to abut converging inner endcportions of said stretcher finger means, and said tip cushion being replaceably removable from the upperend of said opening through saidpassage. g

3. In a machine of; the kind described, stretcher finger means having a spindle for connecting the same with the machine includin'ga hubmember-having an axial opening therethrough terminating upwardly in a lat erally open passage,a"tip-cushion within said opening disposedto abut converging inner end portions ofsaid stretcher finger means, Y

said tip cushion being replaceably removable from the'upper end of said opening-through said passage,andreleasable means for hold-- ingsaid tip cushion in operative. relation to said stretcher finger means. v

4.111 a machine of the kind described, stretcher'finger means having a spindle for connecting the same: with the machineincluding a hub member having an axialopening therethrough and a yoke member provided with a'transversely open passageway communicating with the upper endof said hub member opening, a tip: cushion within said hubmember opening,"said tip cushion be-V ing replaceably removable through theupper end of-said hub member opening and through said transyerse passageway,'and releasable means for holding said tipcushion within said hub member opening. 1

' 5. In a machine of the kind described,

connecting thesame with themachine including a hub member having an axial opening: therethrough and a yoke member'provided with" atransv ersely ope-n passageway communicating with the'upper end of said hub memberopening, a tip cushion within said stretcher finger means having 'airspindle' for a hub. member opening, said tip. cushion being replaceably removable throughthe upper end of said hub member. opening and through saidtransverse passageway, said spindle having a central bore, a stem vertically movable in said bore,and said-stemhavinga backing memberat its lower end to engage and hold said tip cushion within said hub member opening and inoperative assembled relation to saidstretcher fingerimeans.

6; In a machine of the kind --desc1'ibed;

stretcher :finger means having a'spindle for V connectingthe same; with the machine i nclud ing a chub member ha vin'g an axial opening therethrough andv 'a yoke memberprovided j with transversely open, passageway-communicating withthe upper end of said hubv member. opening, a tip cushion withinsaid hub member opening, said tip cushion being replaceablyi removable through the. upper end of said hub member opening and through said transverse passageway, an axially movable stem in screw-threaded engagement with said spindle for vertical movement relative thereto,- and said stem having a retractable backing -member movable therewith across said passageway and into said hub member I vend portions of said vstretcher fingers, said opening to hold-said'tip cushion Within the latter and in operative assembled relation 'to said stretcher finger means.

7. In a machine of the kind described, stretcher means comprising a supporting spindle having a hub member, a plurality of stretcher fingers projecting angularly and radially from said hub member, said hub member having a central opening laterally open at itsupper end, a tip cushion disposed lnsaid opening to abut: converging inner tip cushion being replaceably removable through the laterally open upper end of said, opening, an axially movable manipulatable stem in screw-threaded engagement with said spindle for vertical movement relative thereto, and said stem having a retractable backing membermovable therewith into said hub member opening to hold said tip cushion within the latter and in operative assembled relation to said stretcher fingers. 7 7 8; In a machine of the kind described,

. stretcher means comprising a supporting spindle having a hub member,a plurality of stretcher fingers projecting angularly and radially fr-om said; hub member,,said hub member having a central opening laterally open at its upper end, a tipcushion disposed in said opening to abut converging'inner end portions of said stretcher fingers, said tip cushion being replaceably removable through the laterally open upper end of saidopening,

an axially movable manipulatable stem in screw-threaded engagement with said spin dle for vertical m-ovementirelative thereto, and said stem having a retractable backing member 'movable therewith into said hub member opening to hold-said tip cushion within the latter and in operative assembled relation to said stretcher fingers, and means adjustably movable relative tosaid spindle and connected with said stretcher fingers for adjusting the angular spread of the latter.

9. In a machine of the. kind described, stretcher means comprising .a supporting spindle having ahub member provided with an annular downwardly open channel and a central opening outwardly open at its upper and lower ends, a plurality of stretcher fin-" gers projecting angularly and radially from said hub member, pivot pins for each stretcher finger journaled in' said'hub member to extendthrough and transversely across'said channel thereof to :provide a pivotal axis.

for each stretcher finger disposed in a plane radial to the axis of said hub-memberiand ofi-set ninety degrees relative to the radial 7 plane of the stretcher finger, the upper inner ends of each finger having off-set arcuate arms terminating in pivoting knueklesbrotatable on said pivot pins, means adjustably movable relative to said spindle and-con nected with saidstretcher fingers for adjusting the angular spread of the latter, the inner upper ends of said stretcher fingers further a central opening laterally open atJits-iupper d; a plurality of stretcher fingers j p ing'angularly and radially from said hub member, pivot pins for each stretcher finger -journaled in said hub member; to extend through and transversely across said chan- .nel thereofto-provide a pivotal axis for each stretcher finger disposed in a plane radial-to the axis of said hub-member and oil-set ninety degrees relative to the radial plane of the stretcher finger, the upper inner ends of each finger having ofi -set arcuate arms terminating ill-pivoting knuckles rotatable on saidpivot pins, means adjustably movable 7 relative to said spindle and connectedwith said stretcher fingers for adjusting the angu lar spread of the latter, theinnerupper ends of said stretcher fingers further having shoulder portions converging upon andunderlying the lower open end of said'hub member opening, a tip cushion within said hub member opening and replaceably removable through the laterally open upper endthereof,

and releasable means for holding-said tip cushion within said hub member opening and abutting said stretcher fingersh-oulders.

11. In a machine of the kind described,

stretcher means comprising a supporting spindle having a hub member provided with an annular downwardly open channehand a central opening laterally open at its upper end, a plurality ofstretcher.fingers-proj'ecting angularly and radially from said hub member, pivot pins for each stretcher finger journaled in said hub member toextend through and transversely across said channel thereof to provide a pivotal axis for each stretcher finger disposed in a plane radial tothe axis of said hub-member and off-set ninety degrees relative to the radial'plane of the stretcher finger, the upper inner ends of each finger hav ng off-set arcuate arms terminating in pivotingknuckles rotatable on said pivot pins, means adjustably movable I relative to said spindle and connectedwith sald stretcher fingers for adjusting the angularspread of the latter, the inner upper ends ofsaid stretcher fingers'turther having shoulder portions converging upon and underlying the lower open end of said hub member opening, a tip cushion within said hub member opening and replaceably removable through the laterally open upper end thereof, and releasable means for holding said tip cushion within said hub member opening and abutting said stretcher finger shoulders, said latter means comprising an axially movable stem in screw-threaded engagement with said spindle for vertical movement relative thereto, and said stem having a retractable backing member movable therewith across said passageway and into said hub member opening to hold said tip cushion within the latter and in operative assembled relation to said stretcher finger means. a v

12. In a machine of the kind described, stretcher means comprising a supporting spindle having a hub member provided with an annular downwardly open channel and a 1 central opening laterally open at its upper end, a plurality of stretcher fingers projecting angularly and radially from said hub member, pivot pins for each stretcher finger journaled in said hub member to extend through and transversely across said channel thereof to provide a pivotal axis for each stretcher finger disposed in a plane radial t0 the axis of said hub member and oil-set ninety degrees relative to the radial plane of the stretcher finger, the upper inner ends of each finger having off-set arcuate arms terminating in pivoting knuckles rotatable on said pivot pins, means adjustably movable relative to said spindle and connected with said stretcher fingers for adjusting the angular spread of the latter, the inner upper ends of said'stretcher fingers further having shoulder portions converging upon and underlying the lower open end of said hub member opening and a tip cushion within said hub member opening and replaceably removable through the laterally open upper end thereof, said spindle'having a central bore, a stem vertically movable in said bore, and said stem having a backing member at its lower end to engage and hold said tip cushion within said hub member opening and in operative assembled relation to said "stretcher finger means.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of October, 1931.

' RUDOLPH G. MULLER. 

